Louisville, Kentucky's WAVE 3 News notes that members of the city's homeless and underprivileged populations are being approached by people in unmarked vans offering money for DNA samples.
Participants are reportedly providing cheek swabs in exchange for $20. But the purpose of the DNA collection remains difficult to discern for at least some of the individuals who have participated, according to WAVE 3 News. Some participants were told that their samples would be used to screen for cancer.
The "offer is only available to Passport [Health] customers," Phylicia Ashley writes, though a Passport representative told Ashley that the company is "not related to the group" and that "Passport Health warned customers about engaging with them."
"WAVE 3 News is still working to find out exactly why the group is paying people for their DNA," Ashley concludes.